New Orleans Saints Mark Ingram Coveted by Fans of the New York Giants

Mark Ingram had a stellar year for New Orleans last year, averaging an insane 5.1 yards per carry and totaling 10 touchdowns on the year. This isn’t even mentioning breaking the 1,000 yard rushing mark - the first New Orleans Saints RB to do so since Deuce McAllister. The Saints have seen an improvement in total scrimmage yards and yards per carry in each of the last three years from the former Crimson Tide star.

Ingram sees is a significant pay raise starting in 2017, but he is still under contract with the Saints for two more years at an affordable $7 million total. At only 27 years old, the 6-year veteran still has plenty of prime years left (for reference, Buffalo Bills RB LeSean McCoy is a full year and a half older).

So all things considered then, there would be no reason for the Saints to trade Ingram at this point, right?

Well, not everything thinks that. Over at BigBlueUnbiased.com, a New York Giants blog, the Saints are one of the four listed trade partners with the Giants for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They suggest a straight one-for-one swap for Ingram. About the trade:

The Giants need a running back and the Saints need anyone who knows how to play defense.

New Orleans was last against the pass in 2016, wasting yet another year of Drew Brees’ career with one of the league’s worst defenses.

In their offense, the running back position has become almost irrelevant, as they’ve finished first or second in passing attempts each of the last six seasons.

Mark Ingram for DRC is a win-win for both sides.

While Saints fans surely appreciate the sentiment of improving the defense and secondary, this just doesn’t make sense. “DRC” had a solid year in 2016 with 21 passes defended and 6 INTs, but he’s on the wrong side of thirty. If the Saints are truly interested in adding a talented but aging CB, they could simply wait until he is most likely cut by the Giants later this offseason.

Thanks, but no thanks, Giants.